Chain fence



3969 A. w. HEWSON CHAIN FENCE Filed Dec. 11, 1958 lNV EN TOR. Adolph W Hem/5012, BY M, QWZ QQQM QM AT TORNEYS.

CHAIN FENCE nited rates Patent Adolph W. Hewson, Williamsville, N.Y., assignor to This invention relates generally to fences, and more particularly to a new and useful cap and fastening arrangement for securing chain fencing to fence posts.

While not necessarily limited thereto, this invention is primarily concerned with chain fences of the type comprising a length of interlocked chain links suspended between spaced posts. It is customary to cover the upper ends of such posts with a cap to which the chain is secured. However, such caps often break relatively easily, being made of grey iron or the like, and when they ar broken the chain can be removed. I

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a fastening arrangement securing chain and an end cap member to a post, and maintaining the chain and post assembled and interconnected even if the cap becomes broken and is removed.

A chain fence fastening arrangement in accord with my invention is characterized by the provision of an opening through the fence post near one end, a chain having a link aligned with the opening, a cap over the end of the post and the chain link, and a fastening member extending through the cap, the chain link and the post opening and thereby interlocking the post, the link and the cap and maintaining the first two interlocked even if the cap is broken off.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of a chain fence construction in accord with my invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing illustrating such embodiment wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various views and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a generally schematic, elevational view of a section of chain fence incorporating my invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper end of one of the fence posts illustrated in Fig. 1, showing the fastening arrangement of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view thereof taken about on line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal, sectional ViW with the post shown in elevation taken about at right angles to the view of Fig. 2.

Referring now in detail to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawing, my invention is shown in use with chain fencing of the type comprising a chain 1 formed of interlocked links 2 suspended between posts 3 which are illustrated as being line posts although they could equally well be terminal posts. Each post 3 is embedded in concrete 4, in the usual manner, and preferably is generally H-shaped in cross-sectional configuration, having opposite side flanges 5 joined in generally parallel relation by an intermediate, transverse web 6 to provide outwardly facing channels on opposite sides of the post. My invention is concerned with anchorage of chain 1 to post 3, this being accomplished in accord with my invention by laying the chain 1 in the channels on opposite sides of each post 3, with the chain links lying "ice in the channels on opposite sides of each post and extending across the upper end of each post, as illustrated.

in Figs. 2 and 4. An opening 7 is provided through the web 6 of each post 3, between the channels on opposite sides thereof and adjacentthe upper end thereof at a position so as to be aligned with a pair of the links 2 of chain 1 on opposite sides of the post. The pair of links 2 with which opening 7 is alined are generally parallel to web 6 and are identified in the accompanying drawing as links 2', it being understood that links 2' are identical withlinks 2 and are especially identified only to denote that they are the links in alinement with the opening 7.

I provide a cap, generally designated 8, in the form of an inverted cup. having a top wall 9 and a depending side wall or skirt portion 10 terminating in a peripheral flange 11. Cap 8 is adapted to slip-fit over the upper end of a post 3 to enclose the same, together with the links 2 and 2' of chain 1 which are adjacent the upper end Opposed openings" of the post, as illustrated in Fig. 2. are provided in skirt 10 of cap 3, in alignment with the opening 7 in post 3, and post 3, chain 1 and cap 8 are interlocked and secured in assembled relation by a fastening member which can comprise a bolt 12 having at one end a head 13. Bolt 12 extends through one of. the two openings-in cap 8, one of links 2', opening 7 in post 3, the other of links 2' and the other opening in cap 8. At its other end, bolt 12 receives a nut 14, locking the bolt in place, and bolt 12 preferably is peened over nut 14 to prevent normal disassembly thereof.

Thus, bolt 12 interconnects cap 8, chain 1 and post 3. and a set screw 15 is carried by skirt 10 of cap 8 for bearing against a flange 5 of post 3 to fix cap member 8 in position on the fence post. In this way, the various parts are locked in assembled relation, and cap 8 is tightly fixed on the end of post 3 where it serves to impart a pleasing appearance to the upper end of the post, and to protect the same against the elements. In this regard, it will be appreciated that the upper ends of such posts often become marred when mounting the posts, whereby they are subject to rusting, but cap 8 functions to preclude such rusting and the resulting discoloration of the post.

Also, with bolt 12 peened over nut 14, the chain 1 and post 3 will not become separated and the chain can not be removed, even though the cap 8 becomes broken and the major part thereof is removed. In other words, with the construction of my invention the fastening member 12, 14 not only holds the three parts comprising the cap, the chain and the post, in assembled relation, but it also holds the latter two of them assembled so that even if the cap should become broken and partially removed they will remain assembled.

Accordingly, it is seen that my invention fully accomplishes its intended objects. While only a presently preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described in detail it will be appreciated that my invention is not limited to such details but is subject to variations and modifications all without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully disclosed and completely described my invention, together with its mode of operation, what I claim as new is:

1. In a chain fence, a post, means defining an opening through said post adjacent one end thereof, a chain link adjacent said opening, a cap member over said one end of said post and said chain link, said cap member having a pair of openings in alignment with said post opening when said cap member is in position over said one end of said post, and a fastening member extending through said cap member openings, said chain link, and said post opening and thereby interlocking said post, said chain link and said cap member.

2. 111a chainvfence,..a post, means definingianopening 7 through said post adjacent one end thereof, a length of link chain extending across said one end of said post and along opposite sidesnof said. post adjacent saidtone; tend .thereof saidt chain having two linksialinedzwith'said.

opening on' said opposite sides of: said' post, acap meme member, said chain andisaid post.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2, together with.

5. in a chain fence, a post of generally- H-shaped cross-sectional configuration providing channels extending; lengthwise of said post on opposite sides. thereof; a

length of chain comprising a series of interlocked chain links lying in said channels and extending across one end of said post, said post having an opening. therethrough fromone of said channelsto the other thereof andwtwo of: saidlinks being 'alined with said opening. on said" op posite sides: of said post, a cap member-.enclosingsaid' ber'overwsaid one endof said post and, saidtworlinks, V and a fasteningmember through. saidtcapmember, said, two links and said opening thereby interlockingsaidicap one end of said post, v and a fasteningmember extending through said two links and said opening and engaging said cap member at spaced points on said opposite sides of said post, said fastening member thereby interlocking said cap member, said chain and said post.

6. The combination set forth in claim '1, wherein said fastening member. has means; adjacent its opposite ends of a size precluding passage oi said fastening member through said chain link and through said post opening,

thereby. ensuring against disassembly; of said chainhlink and said post even if said cap member: is broken. and removed, 7

7.'The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said fastening member comprises a headed bolt extending through said cap member, and a nut threaded on one end of said bolt, said one end of said bolt being peened over said nut to preclude normal disassembly of said nut and bolt.

8; The combination setforth inclaim 2,'wherein said. fasteningmember has means adjacent'its opposite: ends 4 precluding passage of. said fastening memherthroughzsaid chain links, thereby ensuring against disassembly of said chain and said post even if said cap member is vbroken v and removed.

7 References Cited in, the file of this patent LT DS TE ATEN Rosback May ZS; 1895 

